Play Tetris in 2025?

I ran across a study this week suggesting a counterintuitive way to help your brain in the areas of concentration, work engagement, burnout, work stress, and sleep: playing Tetris.

The study took place in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic and studied healthcare workers who had been traumatized by their work (PTSD). Participants who played Tetris (and similar games) on their phones for 20 minutes reported a median 80% decrease in intrusive thoughts (compared to the control group), better work engagement, less burnout, less stress at work, and better sleep than the control group.

I am not suggesting that there is anything special about Tetris. The point is that if you give your brain a bit of a break during the workday, it will improve your quality of life. A modest change in lifestyle can make a big difference.

Now, I want to make a point about 2025. If you are on social media, you may have noticed that extreme health challenges (ice baths, marathons, etc.) are all the rage.

Feel free to think smaller, but I want you to make a few modest health resolutions for 2025. Get consistent with sleep patterns, engage in modest exercise (such as walking), and eat food that is good for your mental health.

And, don’t feel guilty about playing some Tetris. In other words, step away from the stress of life for short periods of time throughout the day.

Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash